(ROSSLYN, Va.)—In anticipation of hazards posed by water-damaged electrical equipment in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) offers complimentary copies of Guidelines for Handling Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment, to electrical distributors, contractors, inspectors, and residents in water-damaged regions. It may be downloaded at www.nema.org/stds/water-damaged.cfm.

The document is designed for use by suppliers, installers, inspectors, and users of electrical products. It provides advice on the safe handling of electrical equipment that has been exposed to water and outlines which items will require complete replacement or can be reconditioned by a trained professional.

NEMA is the association of electrical equipment manufacturers, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Its member companies manufacture a diverse set of products including power transmission and distribution equipment, lighting systems, factory automation and control systems, and medical diagnostic imaging systems. Worldwide annual sales of NEMA-scope products exceed $120 billion.